Sunday, August 18, 2013

Striving to keep his father’s glorious legacy alive

Owais Husain did his first oil on canvas at three, and joined a theatre group in school by the age of nine. The multi-faceted artist has explored diverse mediums like painting, photography, sculpture, documentaries, films, poetry and music.

Apart from '3 Worlds, his other selected solos are ‘Forest of Lost Languages: Return of the Native’, Gallery Arts India, New York (2006); ‘How we are living these days’, Vadehra Art Gallery, Delhi (2000); ‘The Present is the Source of Presences’, Vadehra, Delhi (1998); ‘The Present is the Source of Presences’, Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai (1997); ‘Recent Works’, Sakshi, Mumbai (1995).

His significant group exhibitions are 'Keep Drawing', Gallery Espace, Delhi (2008); ‘Contemporary Indian Arts Today’, courtesy Vadehra at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (1999); ‘Legatee’, Sir J.J alumni show, Fine Art Company, Mumbai (1999); ‘Generations’, A Gallery, New York (1998); ‘Wilber ding Collection’, NGMA, Mumbai (1998); ‘Indian Art Post Independence’ courtesy Vadehra, NGMA, Delhi (1997); ‘Four Young Contemporaries’, Cymroza and Sakshi, Mumbai (1993). He had a joint exhibitions, entitled 'Between 2 Lines', with his father at Indian Embassy, Muscat (2011). The event was of immense significance as it was the first and the only exhibition they had together. It marked a beautiful confluence of different times and eras.

Expressing his sentiments, the son had said: “This is a great honor for me since this is the first time ever I share the same platform with my father as a painter. We’ve never worked together except on a film. In that sense, this indeed is an historic event. It has been a challenging experience working in close proximity with him”.

Now that his father is no more, Owais Husain is striving to keep his great legacy alive, in relevance to the present times and the future with a feature film on his life. Another documentary, titled ‘Letters To My Son About My Father; by him encapsulates their creative journeys simultaneously. To pay a tribute to his celebrated father – a great painter and an even greater human being - he is contemplating an apt biopic on his father's colorful and fulfilling life.